Stillbirth: The Loss of My Daughter at 34 Weeks with Alysha Durham

In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Alysha, a mother of three who has experienced both the joys and challenges of pregnancy and childbirth. However, this episode focuses on a topic that is often difficult to discuss: the stillbirth of her daughter, Isla, at 34 weeks gestation.

Alysha opens up about her experience with pregnancy loss and the difficulties she faced during her daughter's birth, which prompted her to advocate for a bereavement room in every hospital in Australia. She shares her personal story and reflects on the signs of stress she missed during her daughter's pregnancy. Alysha talks about her experience with the hospital system and how it led her to sign this petition and other ways she honours Isla's life.

Alysha also shares with us how she navigated the grief of losing her daughter Isla. She talks about her hospital experience and the heart-wrenching process of giving birth to a stillborn baby. Alysha opens up about the trauma of being placed on a ward with new mothers and living babies crying, which added to the stress and heartache of the situation.

Alysha also speaks about the changes she experienced in the way people treated her after the loss of her daughter, and how some people ghosted her because they didn't know what to say. She shares how important it is to have a support system and understanding people around you during such a difficult time.

In addition to this, we discuss Alysha's current pregnancy and how she has kept it quiet due to the anxiety and fears that come with pregnancy after loss. Alysha reflects on her journey so far, including her anxiety and stress leading up to her water breaking 5 weeks ago and her 12-day stay in the Royal Women's hospital in Melbourne.

Petition Information: https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN4873?fbclid=IwAR2c1ojwfOlB_olRtFkfzB_i-Ss6P4nF3TsQLeN3l0iI2Bz7DELk8P9PNbk
SANDS: https://www.sands.org.au/stillbirth-and-newborn-death?gclid=CjwKCAjwov6hBhBsEiwAvrvN6M4AwsLnc0QfMZdjqWMoE2CJiMsj-ZVIlrVBIzw6LADXFyx6ERAsxhoCbmgQAvD_BwE